145 



bisection. And if lost, how can they be reproduced ? 

 If reproduced, how were they concreated with the 

 universe ? These and a thousand other difficulties 

 can in nowise be evaded, but by multiplying supposi- 

 tion on supposition, which renders the hypothesis so 

 complex, as utterly contradicts the ordinary process 

 of nature. 



It is more reasonable to say, that so many secre- 

 tory ducts, so many strainers, so many preparatory 

 vessels in animals, and such a curious disposition iu 

 plants, for the continuation of every species, imply a 

 digestion, secretion, and preparation of principles, 

 invariably productive of every individual, when they 

 fall into their respective matrixes, and find aliment 

 proper to assimilate. Are not these principles con- 

 tained in the nourishment taken by the parent plant 

 or animal, the same that continually vegetate in if, 

 and increase it till it is adult, then exuberate, while it 

 is by new preparations, fitted, invariably to propagate; 

 its kind ? Else why this digestion? Why this se- 

 cretion ? Why so many strainers^receivers, ducts and 

 valves ? And why is some food more productive of 

 these principles than others ? 



And if every mixed body is made up by the com. 

 bination of certain principles; we cannot doubt, but 

 (lod may have established forces in nature, by which 

 such principles may in certain circumstances, be in. 

 variably united, without any danger of deviating, so 

 as to render generation equivocal. And if every pro- 

 duction in question is a mixed body, we know th.-itho>v 

 various soever they are, a small number of .principle 

 differently combined, will yield variety enough to 

 produce them all. Thus we reduce nature to what 

 it is ever found to be, simple in the beginning of its 

 course, but afterwards, when it is distributed, ma^U 

 licent beyond expression. 



Modern naturalists all agree, that every plant pro- 

 reeds from its specific seed ; every animal iYoin a,n eg-^ 

 or something analogous, pre-existing in its pa* 



vor, i, u 



